Protective device for railway crossings



July 20 1926.

J. K. WEST A PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR RAILWAY C RQSSINGS Filed May 11, 1925 iNvENToR v 7', l/KE s fr,

ATTORNEYS July Z0 1926.

' J. K. WEST PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR lBumm cnossINGs Filed May 11, 1925 3..sheets-shee'- 5 BY ATTORNEYS lfi Patented July 20, i926.

'PATENT eprice.

JOHN KINGSBURY WEST, or DETROIT, ivf'INNEsoTA. v

n PRTEcTIvE :DEVICE Foa RAILWAY eRossINe's.

Application led May 11, 1925. Serial No, 295527.

An object o1"- the invention is the provision ot' a device ot' the character described which f has means operable by a railway car approaching the crossing on a track of the crossing to move a gate to positionkto obstruct passage onto the track and operable by the railway car as it passes over the cross ing to open the gate when the car has passed the crossing.

A further object of the `invention is the provisionof a device of `the character described which is reliable in use., not likely to get out ot order easily7 andl thoroughly practicalcominercilly.

A still further object of the invention is the provisionxol a device ot the character described which has means operable automatically to sound an alarm when the gate at the rhilway crossingis closed.

A still further object of the 4invention is the provision ol a device 'of the `character described which can be applied to a railway cri-.issing without any extensive changes, it any? in the usual railway track construction being required.

Other objects and advantages ot the in vention will be apparentpifrom the following description c-onsideredvin connection with the accompanying drawings in' which l Figure l is a plan view of my improved device associated with a railway ci'fossing,

Figure 2 is a viewshowing in vertical sec tion a portion of the highway bed ot' the crossing and a housing and supporting structure which the invention provides and showingy in'elevation a gate comprising a pair of vertical swingable arms and an arrangement that the invention provides for operating the gate arms,` y

f Figure 5^ is a plan view of the structure thatis exhibited in Figure 2,

Figure Ll is a tragmentaryview showing` in vertical section a portion of the track bed and showing in' elevation a portion ot the tracky rail,` and a switch mechanism which is associated therewith;y y Figure 5 is a Atrar'isverse through the structure exhibited in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section vertical section l similar to Figure 5, showing a second torni of switch that the invention embodies and Figure 7 is a view showing more or less ldiagi-ammatically certain of theelements oit the deviceand typical circuits which may be provided. y

Referring now to Figure l, l show a cross ing which is formed by 'the intersection ot' a highway l Yl'or vehicular or oth-.r tralic and a railway track 2. The invention contemplates the positioning; of a pair of gates at opposite sides of the track 2 in positions to obstruct passage along the highway onto the track when thegates are closed and to permit passage along thehighway across the. track when 'the gates are open Each yoit these gates may comprise a pair of vertically swingable arms 3 having` the inner end portions thereoil extended through vertical slots t in opposite side walls 5 ot' yasupporting and housing structure generally indicated at 6, the inner ends of the gate arms terminating in vertical enlarged portions the chamber 8 that the housing structure deiined. y These inner end portions i' ot the gate arms are supported on horizontal pivot elements 9 which are` located in the upper part ot the chamber 8 and which extend Aparallel to the highway l and substantially at right angles to the portion ot the ktrack 2 which crosses the highway. The housing striicture 6 may be formed ot concrete or any other suitable materia and .is positioned in the middle ot" the highway adjacent to one side ot the track 2, it, of course, being unden stood that there is a housing structure (i at each oi: the opposite sides oi thetrack. The gate arms 3 therefore will be supported by the pivot elements 9 in 1position to vobstruct passage alongl the highway l `at both sides of the structure (l onto the track 2 when the `grate arms have been swung downwardly in opposite directions in the slots 4 to positions to entend laterally on opposite sides ot' the housing structure (i from the middle portion of the highway to the side edges thereof. 1When the gate arms are in the passage-obstructing position just described and are substantially horizont-al, the outer ends ot the arms will restin notches or slots l0 in the upper ends oi posts ll which are `located at opposite sides of the highway.

ylhe enlarged inner end portions of the arms 3 are pivotally attached by horizontal pivot elements 1Q to the upper ends ot conrwithin lili) necting rods or links 13 which are pivotally attached at theirl lower ends to a wristpin 14 which is carried by a crank disc 15. The connection of each link 13 with au inner end portion of a gate arm 3 at a level higher than that of the pivot element 9 on which that particular gate arm is supported when the gate arm is in substantially horizontal position as shown in Figure 2, and at this time the wrist pin 14: will be positioned at the highest part of its path of movement. Therefore7 when the crank disc 15 is rotated about its axis through 180O from the position shown in Figure 2, the gate arms 3 will be actuated to cause the outer end portions thereof to swing upwardly until these gate arms are substantially vertical, slots 1G which are formed in the covering 17 for the housing' structure 6 in alignment with the slots 1 permitting this upwardly swingii'ig movement of the gate arms. then the rotation of the crank disc is continued through the remainder of a complete rotation. the gate arms will be swung downwardly in the slots 1G-et from substantially vertical and non-obstructing positions to substantially horizontal, active7 or passage-obstructing positions.

The crank disc is secured on a horizontal shaft 1S which supported in the chamber 8, as by means of a pin 19 at the upper end of a supportingl standard 2O on the floor ot the chamber 8 so that the axis of the shaft 18 is parallel to the axes of the wrist pin lel the pivot elements 1&2, ments 9.

Rotation of the shaft 18 to operate the gate arms 3 in the manner just described may be etl'ected by any suitable drivingl means. l prefer to use a drum 2l which is secured on the shaft 18 within the chamber 8. Cable 2] is secured at one end to the periphery of the drum and after being passed a plurality of times about the periphery of the drum is attached at its other end to a weight 22. The weight 22 will be supported in elevated position close to the drum 21 when the cable is practically completely wound on the drum and `gravity will tend to cause downward movement of the weight from such elevated position. A pit or cavity Q3 may extend downward from the bottoni of the chamber 8 to permit a relatively great vertical movement of the weight This downward movement of the weight 22 will cause the cable to be unwound from the drum and at the same time will turn the drum and the shaft 1S about the asis of the shaft, also turning the crank d isc 15 and operating the gate arms. Rotation of the shaft in respect to the aetuatioii of .the weight 22 is controlled by means whiclrwill now be described. Such means comprise a control disc 2-1 which is secured 7 and the pivot eleon the shaft 18 and is formed with stop pro--` jections 26 and Q5 resj'iectively. These stop projections extend radially outward from the periphery of the disc Q41- and are spaceffl 180O apart. The stop projections 25 and it are out of alignment with each other. one stop projection being adjacent to ene edge of the periphery of the disc and the other stop projection being` adjacent to the opposite edge of the periphery of the disc 24. is shown in Figure 3, a pair of electro-magnets Q7 and 28 respectively are positioned in the chamber S in side by side relation so that the armature 30 of the electro-magnet :2S will .lie in lthe path of movement of the stop projection when the electro-magnet 28 is deeiiergized and the armature 29 of the electro-magnet 27 will lie in the path ol Inoveinent of the stop projection Q6 when the electro-magnet i7 is cle-energized. then the electro-n'iainiets are energized the armatures thereof will be retracted into the casings of the electro-magnets out of the paths of movement of the respective stop projections and Q6.

The invention provides a means controlled by the wheel of a railway car which transverses the track Q for energizing the electro-magnets Q7 and 28. Such means comprise a pair of normally open electric switclies generally indicated at 31 (see Figures el and 5) for the electro-magnet 28. The respective switches El are positioned at opposite sides of the highway at considerable ldistai'ices from the highway and in proximity to one of the rails of the track. [flach switch 31 comprises a switch casing 32 which is embedded in the track bed 33 underneath the flange of the track rail so that a vertically-moving actuating1r rod 341 .may extend alongside of the track rail through aligned vertical slots 35, S6, and 37 in a guide block 3S, the top BS of the switchi ease, and the base flange of the rail, respectively. The upper end portion of the actuatingrod 34 extends at one side of the head of the rail nearly to the level of the top face of the. latter when a vertically swingable arm 3f) on which the lower end of an actuating rod- 34- rests is substantially horizontal, as shown in Figure 5. The arm 39 is pivotally supported at one en'd on a horizontal pivot element 40 and is pivotally attached adjacent to its other end as at /11 to a rod 4t2 which extends slidably through a. central opening in the head 48 of a. cylinder 41.4 and is secured at its lower end to a piston 415, which is reciprocable in the cylinder fiel. rThe latter is secured to the bottom oit' the case 32, preferably pivotally as at. tti, so that the cylinder 111 is capable of limited swinging movement about an axis parallel to the pivot element 40. An expansion spring i7 is disposed about the rod 4t2 and reacts at one end against the head of the cylinder 44 and at the opposite end against the arm 39, thereby llt) llt)

lili

contact 51. Vthe actuating :Itod''/t will takelpllae Wbll the `Wheel of a railway 4car trayete the casje'y downward to t tending. to maintain thearm. 39,2 in horizontal position as shoxenfiniligulae 5. The .plstQn .may he formed with. one el; vmote .yeutical openings asindieated .21h48, .each oi these openingsbeig `.contmilled. by an .upwardly opposing. check Valve. The w gmini .the arm' 89' .rests on the. tree end poitionof. a spring Contact 5D, iyhichissn'ppmlted-.at lts other'end on a .veitical Wall Qfwthe .switch case 32 ldirectlyy above the. eomfspdnding, end of stationary contact 51. Theinhelegit ,E6- siliency of the spring Contact 50. acts .to maintain .the spring/contact 50. out Qt emitact with the Contact A5.1. Howeyer, .It LVS manifest that Vdowiisyald movement off the actuating. rod 34 .willfcause the 31111.39@ swng ldion'uiyyail againshthe lact-ian. Q .the spring 4?,.theneby forcing the .free end PQI*- tion of the ,spring .contact downward against the actionA off. the.spying` 4.7the19by forcing the fizeeend portlonof the Spllgg contact V5G downward against the statlqnwy This downward .movement of track rail,y since the. Open. end, Qflthe 'ammeting nod S34-.normally eXteIldS-alll'glde @fthe traverses the .nai1."-"` ,The 'downwind ,meyement of the ami Bwll alsoeause doy@- downward movement of thepltQn andthll `closing and'theneby retalding nndlmllih- Aing the return or 'flQWIlW-L'd mQYQIIlQQ Q' `train which traverses the track will` ,force the actuating rod ,3.4 .doiynyyaedland the valve piston will .acuto retandthe .11e-tuen .or

.upward movementoi .the .actuating rod .S0 .that suchro'd will be :mutilated byh 'Wheels of airain but ivory few times dumng .the

passage .of atrain' of conSidthlewlellgih along theltnack.'

` aEigure '.6 I ishoiva .normally @logged switch, generally lndlated aat .131', .whlh

differs ro'mthe switchy that vis QXhhile-din lFigures 4 and 5 only in. Certain deteils which wlinow be set'outandwhleha QP- erated by .a mechanlsm ldentleal :yylth .the

herein-before described meehanllll .that .the

invention provides. for operating theswitoh 31. lhe ,operating meehanim .i911 the switch shown in .Figure ktllerefolze :smily partly illustrated .and such .parts .thereof as .are shown hayezbeen indicated-hy the Seme .refenence oharaetens `pliiiam'd asyyereused t0 designate @prrespondmgparts of the/.operating mechanism of the switch shown Figures 4 and 5. The switch exhibitgdin yFigure 6 .oompvises .a `.etetorlmy .eenteet 52 whiohiextendsinwardi. fzfrom the Well ef the ile free end Qfftheyer- .tical uswngahle ,atm g .A fnlpyahle. pl'ing `.Contact 53. .is secured at one. endte the Same .wall ofthe ease 3.1 .directly beneath `the eorflteet .52 and, extends within the ease 3l in Contact with the Contact 52 so that the hace .end of the Spring Contact @terminates 1inderneeth and against the free. eedperten ef the yertieal-lyfewingeble .erm .39.- Therefolie, it wllmanfest that ,dewnweld meye- .Illeli @fthe free. eednorten ofthe arm 3.9 will meye theeprns come@ 5.3 eut 0f engagement. with the 'statpaaty @ente/et ,5,2- 'lhis dew-weed meyemenb ei' the eifel-3W .is etfeeted .in the .Samemenner dewewerd movement ef the aan@ 3.9., er, in. ether werds, .ee the result ,ef .the 4deWmyerd. mevementef vertieelly-meyiilgfred eebuetiugthe Swine able erm 3.9% such' downward meyemelitef the actuating .Ieflfbeies Caused by the Hanse .ef the Wheel efe railway ear Wheh tieverses the Iel. with which theeeee- 32 ie eeeeeianee- .By reeyfllgfte Figure 7, it `.will be un" derstood that tvv-,e of .the ewitehee laeepeetively ere positioned edieeent. te iene/ofthe teile. ef the breek et eppeete sides `ef. the highway lendtliettweef the .Switches Sl are eeepee-ted Withthe seme ,treek'rail as .the eye-telles l, .eeeh flee-.ieg Peeitened edieeent .te eeleeed ewiteh 31.. .being between .the letter and the.` highway .4.1.1. eddieael eh.. indieetesl et. ai, ie identeel .1.1.1 Cellsteiieteeyyth eeehe the ewtehee :31 and theyeere hee .Het been illusimtei ie detail .m the ,dea/Wines This-swish 54 is Pos1- ffiened. midway. of the his-hwy and .e-flliaeeee te 'iii-.1e @eek pail seth@ the' Haase 03F the.

'freer Wheel ef e railwfw ear. mesme elees the tifaekeeiees the highwaylaetuatee. the

eperatiee meehenism ref .the .ewteli .i te

@lose `the Switch .5.4 tee presently etated.- i

Thee-@eterea ef the eayiteh l eee eee-- eeeted by, eendlieters fwith eendeetei" .iyhieh leads te ne .end Le-thealeetrefmeaaee @he e eentaete .5.1 ei' the ewitehee @i Pllpese to. be

3l eee .eenneeted by .eleetyie eemieeeefe ai che comme@ @me swiwhes elf.' The .etatieaayy eenreete 52 ef .the eiyitehlfe 31 eeeneeted by ee dueiees sith e eendueiey e0 Whieh lee .e mene eide ef e bat-- telfy 57- The .Siehe-ilary eeeteet .ef the.

ewieh .ee ie .eeeneeted .by en .elee'iifieel .eendueter .6.1 te elle end ethe Seil .ef elle fe'f the deem-.magnete .27- The meyeble .ses .tee-t. ef the Switch 54 ie eeeeeetefl by feeflueterwith .theeenduetels 6.0 Wheh leide te the heeeinhefere mentieeed .Side ef the battery 57- The seeeed end .ef .theeel erf `the electoinagnets 2'1" is conneted ,by an eleeteieel eendaetef 63. with eeediieer el ai .ieh leeds. from the Seeeild lend ofthe @eil e the eleetle-megnet 2.8 t the eeeenl` eide .ef the battey .57.- Tbe. e sette-magnet 28 at the opposite side of the track 2 is connected electrically in series `with the said first ,eleetreleegeet .2.8 by ineens .afee eleciii) 'iso

trical conductor which leads from one end of the coil of the second electro-magnet 28 to one side of al battery 66. An electrical conductor 67 leads from seconffl side of the battery G6 to one of the electric conductors 55. An electric conductor 68 leads from the second end of the coil of the second electro-magnet 28 to the conductor In a like manner the second electro-magnet 27 is connected electrically in series with the first electromagnet 27 by electrical means1 which include au electric conductor 69 leading from end of the coil of the second electro-magnet 26 to the conductor 65 and an. electric conductor which .leads from the second end of the coil of the second electromagnet 27 to the electric conductor ('32.

From the foregoing descriptimi of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood` rVlie foremost wheel of a car or train approarlr ing the highway l from either of the two opposite directions from which movement 's possible lalong the track 12 will actuate the operating mechanism of the adjacent switch 31 and will close the circuit which has been described in detail for energizing the electro-magnets 28. Energization of these mag nets will cause retraction of the armatures 30 and the control discs 24; being permitted to rotate through 18()o from the position shown in Figure 7 thereby permit rotation of the shafts 18 in response to the actuation of the weight 22 through 180O and cause the gate arms of the gates at opposite sides of the track to move `from raised`I inactive positions to lowered, passage-obstruction posi-- tions as shown in Figure 2. The operating mechanism of the adjacent switch 3l will be actuated to break the circuit shortly after one of the switches 3l has been closed. At this time the switch 54 will be open, that being the normal condition of that switch and, the armatures of the electro-magnets 27 will be in extended positions. The control discs 24 having rotated through i800 from the positions shown in Figure 7 the armatures of the electro-magnets 27 will engage with the stop projections 26 and will prevent further movement ofthe shafts 18, whereby the gate arms will remain in lowered, active positions until the foremost wheel of the car or train which is traversing the track 2 has passed along` the track onto the crossing and to position to actuate the operating mechanism of the switch 5-1. Actuation of the operating mechanism of the switch 54: will cause closing o f the latter and of the circuit it controls. Energization of the electro-magnets 27 will be effected. The armatures 29 which will. be retracted from the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 and the alarm, such as indicated more or less dia-l grai'umaliically at 7l in Figure 2, in each or only cnc of the chambers 8. This alarm may be of any suitable known construction but preferably is of the type which. includes an operating mechanism7 not shown), such as may be found in an ordinary alarm clock, said operating mechanism being jn'evented normally from sounding an alarm by a movable springeimpelled control member 72. Anarm 7 3 for operating the control member 72 'is pivotally supported intermediate its length so that the upper end portion thereof extends in the path of u'iovement of a slop projection 711; when the latter moves through-'L80O from the position shown in Figure 7. ln other words, the upper ond of the pivoted' arm 73 will be enga-ged by the stop projection 74; shortly after the stop projection 25 has been disengaged by the associated armature 30. The resulting movement of the arm 73 will actuate thc control member 72 to release the means for sounding an alarm and an alarm therefore will be sounded each time the gates arc closed.

The operatingr mechanism will be well protected from the weather and from arcidental injury andis not likely to get out of order easily. When the weight 22 which is associated with each of the shafts 1S has moved to the limit of its downward stroke it may be raised to permit rotation of the drum and shaft to re-wind the cable on the drum. It is obvious that other driving mechanism of known construction may be employed to rotate the Shaft continuously in one direction when the control disc 2L has been released without involving any departure 'from the spirit and scope of the in.- vention.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible of modifications and adaptions from the form of the device that is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and I therefore con- Sider as my own all such modifications and adaptions as fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

l. A device of the character described comprising a housing structure positioned in a` highway at one side of a railway track across which said highway extends, a pair of vertically-swingable .gate arms extending from sai-d housing and movable from raised, inactive position to lowered, passage-ob.- structing position, a, shaft. rotatably supported in said housing, motiontransmitting means connecting. said sli-att with said. gate arms vfor raisin-g and lowering said' arms, means tending to .rotate said shaft, and means releasably holding said shaft againstr rota- 2-A pri i highway ,at one Side of a railway track across. which .said highway` extends, a f air ot verticallyeswingable gate arms exten lingl trom` saidhousing and movable from raised, inactive position to, lowered, passage-obstructing position, a shaft rotatably supported in said housing, motion-transmitting means connecting said sha-ft with said gate arms 'for raising andflowering said arms, means tending to `rotate said shaft, ay control discsecured to sai-d" shaft, having oppositel-ydevice of the character described com- ,entending stop projections on its periphery spaced 1800 apart and out ot' alignment with each other, a'pair oit electroema-gnets having armatures respectively. extending inthe paths of movement of saidstopprojlections when the electro-magnets are de-enejrgized,

electric circuits for operating` saidelectro-l magnets, said Yelectric circuits bei-ng normally operi and one oisaid electric Cjlflfcuitsincluding a normally openswi-tch adapted to be closed by the wheel ota railway can approaching said crossing-fon the track, aan other ot said electric circuits includingA a nomi-ally open switch i adapted to Vbe closed by the wheel oii the. car as `the-latten' traverses `the track at the intersectionot the track` andi the highway.

comprisinga housing structure positioned in it highway at one side o-fa railwaytrack across which said highwayextends,a` pair of verticallyswiiigable` gate arms extending'- lirom said housing and movable tromraised, inactive position to lowered, passage-obstructingyposition, a.; shaft rotatably supponted insaid housing, motion-transmitting means con nectingsaid shaft with said gate arms, means tending,tofrotatesaidf shaft, a control disc" secu-red to said sliaft, having oppositely-ex tending stop` projections on. its periphery spaced 180O apart and out ofali'gnmentwith g a housing structure positioned av o. A devicev oftthe character described,y

normally yopen switch vadapted to .be closed by the wheel of lthe car die latter traverses the track at the intersectionoi ,the vtrack ,and thehighway, said irstelectric circuit in-` cluding a normally closed switch located between said normally open switch and the crossing and adaptedto .be operatedby the ecv inactive position ,tov lowered, passage-ob`V structing position, a shaft, rotatably supported in said housing, motion-transmitting meansconnecting said shaft with saidgate arins for raising and' lowering said'l arms, means tending to. rotate said shaft, ka control disc secured .to said shaft, havingoppositelyextending stop projections .on` itsV periphery spaced. 1800 apart and outof alignment with.- each other, a pair ot electro-magnets having arinatures respectively extendingv in the paths of movement of f said `Stop projections when the electromagnets` are def-,energizefly two yelectric circuits for operating one. ost

the. saidelectro-magnetsf and a third electric circuit tor operating. the seo01-1d.electro.-rnag-v uet, each oi'.- said irstfnamedf circuits, includingra nominallyl open. switch, associated with. atrack rail.- at one` .side of. the'cross'ing,

the respective normallyopen. switches. beingV positioned a'topposite sides. oi' the crossing, and a pair of normally-closed switches. asso.- ciated with Vthe track rail and respectively located between said. hist-named switches and the crossing, cachot said` switches being adapted to be actuated by' the wheeled a railway car traversing. the portion of the track.l rail with which. said switch. is asso ciagted,.eachy ot said. normally-open switches.

adapted tofbe closed by' the wheel. of a railway car and each. of. said, normally closed switches vadapted to. bey opened by. said.. railway car .w-.heelg the circuit.for Yoperating the second electF-,ofmagnet including a .normallyopen switch, associated, withr the-track rail at. the crossing and adapted tobe closed by. theewheel. oty a railwaycar as said.,car-:traverses the track at the.r crossing..

5. A device of. lthe character described comprisingy pivoted-gate .members atoppo.- site sides of the track at a railway crossing, means for raising and lowering said gate members, electro-magnetic control means for controlling the operation of said gate-o er ating means, `electric circuits inclu ing switch members adapted to be actuated by the wheel of a railway car approaching the crossing on said track from'either of two opposite directions for closing said switch,

ill

other normallyselosed switches positioned adjacent to said irst-named switches and adapted to be operated by the wheel of a car passing from said crossing toward said first-named switches to render said firstnamed switches ineil'ective to close said circuit, and a normally-open switch located at said crossing and adapted to be actuated by the wheel oi"l a car traversing the rail at the crossing to close a circuit for raising said gates.

6. A device ot the character described comprising pivoted gate members at opposite sides ol the track at a railway crossing, means for raising and. lowering said gate members, electro-magnetic control means :for controll in g the operation oiZ said gate-operati ing ineans, electric circuits including switch members adapted to be actuated by the wheel ot a railway car apjn'oaching the crossing on said track irom either o'li two opposite directions lor closing said switch, other iiormallyclosed switches positioned adjacent to said [irst-named switches and adapted to be opened by the wheel ot a car passing lfrom said crossing toward said first-named switches to render said irst--named switches ineffective to close said circuit, a normally` open switch located at said crossing and adapted to be actuated by the wheel of a car traversing the rail at the crossing to close a. circuit for operating the said electro-magnetic means to raise said gate, members, said electroanagnetic control means including electrically connected members tor operating the gates, which are located at opposite sides of the track., simultaneously andv in the same manner.

7. In a device ol" the character described, a housing structure in the middle of the highway at one side ot the railway track, said housing having vertical slots in the side walls thereof, a pair of gate arms extending through said slots into the housing and piif'otally supported adjacent to their inner ends 'for swinging movement between raised and lowered positions. Ia shaft rotatably supported in the housing, the axis o'tl the shaft being parallel to the axes ot the swinging movements of said gate arms` mo tion-transmitting means connecting the inner ends of said gate arms and said shaft whereby said gate arms will be raised and.- lowered during each complete rotation of said shaft, a drinn secured on said shaft, gravity means associated with said drum in cooperation with the latter to rotate said sha-tt and means for controllingr the rotation of said shaft.

8. In a device of the character described, a housing structure in the middle of the highway at one side of the railway track, said housing having vertical slots in the side walls thereof, a pair or' gate arms extending through said slots into the housing and pivotally supported adjacent to their inner ends for swinging' movement between raised and lower positions, a shaft rotatably supported in the housing, the axis of the shait heilig parallel to the axes of the swinging movements olt said gate arms, inotion-transmitting means connecting the in- :ner ends o'l said gate arms and said shaft whereby said gate arms will be raised and lowered during each complete rotation of said shatt, a drum secured on said sha'lt. gravity means associated with said drum in cooperation with the latter to rotate said sha'tt and electro-magnetic .ireaus tor controlling the rotation ot said shaft.

9. In a device ot the charactei.' described, a housing structure in tln` middle ot the highway at one side of the railway track. said housing' having vertical slots in the side walls thereof, a. pair oli gate arms extending through said slots into the housing and pivotally supported adjacent to their .inner ends itor swinging movement between raised and lowered positions, a shaft rotatably supported in the housing, the axis o't the shaft being parallel to the axes of the swinging niovements ci' said gate arms, motion-transmitting means connectin the inner ends of said gate arms and said shaft where by said gate arms will be raised and lowered during each complete rotation of said shaft, a drum on said sha'lit, gravity means asso` ciated with said drum in cooperation with the latter to rotate said shaft, and means iter controlling the rotation oi said shalit, said controlling means including a disc mounted on the shaft having a plurality ol' spaced radial stop projections on its periphery, electro-magnets having armatures adapted to extend in the path of movement of certain of said stop projections when the electro-magnets are de-energized, and an alarm adapted to be actuated by one of said projections when said disc rotates from a certain. position.

JOHN KINGSBURY WEST. 

